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About This Experience

Put your Hand on the Throttle and Learn to Drive a Train! This once in a lifetime experience is your chance to operate a full-size Steam Locomotive on Connecticut’s beautiful Valley Railroad.

This unique experience begins with instruction on safety aspects, basic locomotive theory and operation. Following instruction, you will join a member of the crew, climb onto the majestic 4-6-4 Steam Engine and embark on a one hour journey as a Railroad Conductor. As you depart from the Valley Railroad Station, your hand will be on the throttle as you travel past some of the most beautiful scenery and landscapes the Connecticut River Valley has to offer. Under direct supervision, you will learn how to operate and control your speeds as you marvel at the power of one of the most important and influential inventions in history.

So whether you have always dreamed of driving a train or are a history buff, this Learn to Drive a Steam Train experience in Essex is the ticket, and makes the perfect gift for train lovers!

Participants
The Learn to Drive a Steam Train Experience Gifts Certificate is valid for one participant. You will be joined by three additional students during the instruction period of the experience.

At the beginning of each class session, students will be instructed on steam locomotive operation followed by a safety test. After the test, each student will take a turn operating a steam locomotive under the direct and constant supervision of the engine crew for approximately one hour along the Valley Railroad.

Participants must be at least 18 years of age. Only one participant will be allowed on the locomotive with the train conductor at a time. Guests are not permitted onboard the train.

BUY NOW BOOK LATER

Experience Gifts are delivered in the form of an open-dated Gift Certificate redeemable at the recipient’s convenience, making it easy for them to book the date that works best for them.

INSTANT E-GIFT

Gifts can be printed out upon purchase; or, delivered instantly via eMail to you or to the gift recipient. Certificates can be personalized with a message and include a full description of the gift purchased. Don’t worry, we won’t disclose the price of the gift.

NO EXPIRATION DATES

Certificates are valid for one year from the date of purchase. After 12 months from the date of issue, the redeemer will be responsible for any price increase for the activity (if there is one at the time of redemption).

FREE EXCHANGES

Worried about selecting the perfect gift? No need to! Certificates valid for a specific activity can be exchanged at any time prior to redemption. Plus, open Choice Certificates can be purchased here.

5,500+ EXPERIENCE GIFTS

With so many activities to choose from across the United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa, you are sure to find the perfect Experience Gift for everyone on your list!

BEST PROVIDERS

Xperience Days only works with the best in-class Activity Providers. We do the research for you in order to make sure that your gift recipient will have a memorable adventure.

FREE GIFT PACK

Gifts may be sent in an attractive gift pack and delivered via your choice of USPS or FedEx. Gift packs contain the gift card purchased, a description of the gift itself and an optional personalized message.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Have questions? Live Customer Support is available Monday thru Friday from 9:30 AM until 4:30 PM (EST). We are happy to answer any questions you may have via Phone, Live Chat or eMail.

Drive the Train

Was a wonderful experience. Very interesting and informative, and a once in a lifetime experience! Instructors and assistants were very knowledgeable and helpful. Thank you so much for an enjoyable time!

Paul Valerio - Frankford, NJ

Live Steam in Motion

The experience was a much more inclusive study of steam locomotion than I had anticipated. Not only did I get to move a steam engine but I learned how it really works.

Danne Lorieo - Yonkers, NY

Learn to Drive a Steam Train

Very educational. Good teacher. Excellent engineer on train.

Carl Fritschi - Essex, Ct

Essex Hand on the Throttle

I received this as a Christmas present from my wife and it was one of the best gifts I ever received. I am fascinated by how things work and older "technology" so the educational and instructional component of the experience was just as fun and interesting as driving the big engine.

Kevin K. - Norwalk, CT

Absolutely Amazing

I recieved this as a birthday gift and it was the best gift I have ever recieved. This is a once in a lifetime experience that is truly worth the money. Thr crew is very friendly and personable and are willing to help and train you. The driver and fireman are both really great guys who enjoy their job and this makes the whole experience a million times more enjoyable. If i could rate it higher than a 5, I would not hesitate to do so. Absolutely great gift for any train nut.

Vinny - New York

Learn to Drive a Steam Train

The two individuals (e.g. the fireman and the engineer) were outstanding. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone that has a remote interest in understanding the concepts of driving a steam train. The Steam Train Team made me feel comfortable with the experience and overall extremely enjoyable. Thanks so much!

Susan Bostick - Gold River, CA

You Hand on the Throttle

This was my 2nd experience and with a different locomotive. The thrill of driving it, blowing the whistle and just savoring the moment was priceless. My thanks go to my family and the expert train crew for making it a memorable day!

Armand - Staten Island

Hand On The Throttle Experience

My Hand On The Throttle Experience significantly exceeded my expectations! As good as the actual experience of operating the locomotive the interaction with Paul and Ken who provided in actual experience was better. Paul and Ken made my experience. I recommend this experience to anyone with any interested in railroading.

Ken A. Forrest - Gold River California

Hands On Train Experience

Better experience than I expected. The Engineer was very patient, explained everything clearly. Excellent Instructor. The Fireman was also great. Will recommend this to my friends.

Robert Radecki - Sussex, CT

Steam Train

Absolutely Fabulous! Brian, Eric, David were very nice local people to work with. It truly was a dream come true for me and the best present ever. All my friends and relatives were shocked, surprised and later just as excited as I to watch my experience on video.

Helen Ryan - Essex

Hand on the Throttle

Ready to do it again! Was a great ride, people were great! You control a 150 ton locomotive, get to feel the rush of all that steam power moving one big machine!

Jeffrey Kier - Ewan NJ

Hands on the throttle

This was an excellent experience. I will highly recommend it to others interested in steam railroads.

Alfred H. Brand - Kew Gardens NY

Great!!!

One of the best times I've ever had had....can't wait to do it again!

Brian McKeen - Hanson, MA

Learn to Drive a Steam Train

It was terrific!!! I took the class at noon on April 20th and rode the train at 4 PM. While everyone was very friendly and behaved like they really enjoyed their job, I would like to call specific attention to the crew on the train. They were very friendly and eager to share their knowledge about railroading. They made you feel right at home and put you at ease. Their attitude was that they were happy I was there and eager to share railroading with me. I would recommend it to anyone interested in trains!!!

Keith J. Nevrincean - New Jersey

Train Experiece Day

'The Hands on the Throttle' Train Exp.Day was awsome. It was a dream of a life time for me. The crew and instructors were very good and patient with all of us. It was worth the drive to Essex to see and drive a real Steam Locamotive,what an Awsome piece of machinery. Thanks again for the RIDE!! PS:Special thanks to my Spousal Equivalent and her 2 Daughters for making all of this possible for me.

Roger Chagnon - Lyman, ME

Steam Train

WOW - what an exciting and exhilarating experience! Getting the chance to start, run and stop a steam locomotive was awesome. Feeling the engine rumble and sway along the track, smelling the coal smoke and swirling steam, and of course, blowing the whistle for grade crossings and kids (seeing them smile and wave to me was pure pleasure!) on this 8 mile trip are some of the sensations and images I'll always treasure. The instructors and engine crew were truly professional, very patient and answered all my questions about operating the locomotive. I tip my engineer's cap to them. Thank you to the Valley Railroad, and especially my family, for this wonderful gift. Now, it's your turn. The engine and crew are waiting for you. GO!

Armand - Staten Island, New York

Train Driving Adventure

I got this as a birthday present and it was amazing, I loved every minute of this experience.

Nathan - Thompson

LEARN TO DRIVE A STEAM TRAIN

As a life-long lover of anything having to do with railroads and especially steam locomotives, this was the experience of a lifetime.

HAL MARSHALL - LAKE LOTAWANA MO

Steam train

The experience was fabulous. The folks at Valley Railroad are enthusiastic about sharing their love of steam trains and making the event everything it was advertised to be. I'll likely do it again and one of my friends is ready to sign up as well.

Ray James - Williamsburg, VA

Steam Train

Driving the steam train in Essex was a wonderful experience. Moving 80 tons of metal was the thrill of a lifetime. More importantly, I have made a small contribution to railroad preservation.

John Sharkey - Essex CT

Drive a Steam Train

For a few hours last Friday, I became a little boy again, driving a steam locomotive along the Connecticut River Valley. It was a dream I have had for over fifty years since I was just a kid playing with my electric trains at Christmas. Words cannot describe the thrill!

Ken Buettner - Essex, CT

Hands on the Throttle

What a wonderful adventure! The crew and staff could not have been better. I was at the throttle for #97, a 2-8-0 Consolidation. Now I have one up on my other train friends - I have actually driven a steam locomotive!

Danny Seymour - Howell, NJ

Hands on the Throttle

Fantastic, great bunch of people. Lots of fun, one of the best experiences I have ever had.

Michael Lux - Warren NJ

Learn to Drive a Steam Train

Fantastic, start to finish! I'll be back with friends!

Peter - New Hampshire

Hand on the Throttle

This experience exceeded my expectations. The classroom activities covered all the principles of operation of all the major components of the steam engine. It was well presented utilizing a real engine and models with plenty of time allocated to questions. It is amazing technology for the time. Once on the engine, the engineer and fireman did a fantastic job giving me the guidance to actually operate this amazing machine myself. I highly recommend this experience.

Ray Marino - Bridgewater, NJ

Learn to Drive a Steam Engine

Outstanding adventure. Great people at the Essex Valley RR drove a 282 consolidation steam engine, apretty big engine. Class was first then drove the train for 1 hour through Conn. Valley along the river. Absolutely terrific day. I'm going to do it again. The RR is a living museum of stores, repair shops and yards.

David Robertson - Mt Sinai NY

Hand on The Throttle

One of the great moments in my life time.
Instructors were very helpful and considerate of our needs to learn a lot in a very short period of time. The engineer and fireman did a great job in making me comfortable at the trottle! I will return soon to do this again! Thanks again!

Arthur Tuttle - East Lyme

'Hand on The Throttle'

My siblings and I purchased this for our Dad's milestone birthday. He had an absolutly amazing time. The faces on the 4 engineers we saw, including Dad's, after their time at the throttle were priceless...like a young boy Christmas morning. I would highly recommend this once in a life time adventure for any steam train buff. Must be at least 18. Just be sure to reserve in advance as this expereince is limited and always sells out. The staff at the Essex Steam Railroad Museum were great and provided everything needed (release, train manual, etc.) well in advance. Again, I highly recommend this adventure!!

Question: Would I be able to purchase a ticket to ride on the train WHILE my husband did this experience?

Answer: Unfortunately, the provider does not allow anyone on the train during the lesson. Only one participant will be allowed on the locomotive with the train conductor at a time. Guests are not permitted on board the train. However, you will find that there are several things for you to do that are close to the train station.

Question: My husband loves trains and I am thinking about this experience for his 60th birthday. How long is the train ride and is he in the cab the entire time? Would I be able to ride in the passenger area of the train or is there an area I can wait in?

Answer: During the Drive a Steam Train your husband will first have a lesson on how to operate the train and a safety test. He will then enjoy one hour of conducting the train. The total duration of this experience is approximately 4 hours.
Unfortunately passengers are not permitted to ride along in the train during the experience. Essex is a beautiful waterfront district with plenty to explore. You may enjoy a visit to a museum, a morning at the spa, or take a leisurely stroll browsing the storefronts and spend the morning shopping.

Question: I would like purchase this gift for my husband, a train enthusiast. Does everyone in the class board the train take turns at the controls or will he have his own time?

Answer: There are four students to a class, and you learn how to operate the train and take the safety test together. Then you will take turns boarding the train for a solo hands on lesson. Only one student will be on the train conducting at a time.

Question: My son loves trains and is getting his driver's license this year. I'd like to surprise him by having him drive us to the train station and letting him learn to drive a steam train. What are the age requirements?

Answer: All driver's must be at least 18 years old and have a valid drivers license.

Question: I would like to purchase this for my 84 year old father who uses a wheelchair. It has been a dream of his for a long time. Is the train wheelchair accessible?

Answer: Unfortunately because of space and physical requirements of driving the train this is not handicapped accessible.

Question: I would like to buy this experience for my dad for his birthday. It says that this is a 4 hour experience, 1 hour instruction, 1 hour of driving, but you are with other people learning too. What would my dad do for two hours after he learns but cannot be the first of the group to drive the train?

Answer: During the time that the participants wait for their turn, they will be in the dining car with the other participants and an instructor or representative from the railroad. As reflected in the reviews, this is an extremely popular and enjoyable experience.

BUY NOW BOOK LATER

Experience Gifts are delivered in the form of an open-dated Gift Certificate redeemable at the recipient’s convenience, making it easy for them to book the date that works best for them.

INSTANT E-GIFT

Gifts can be printed out upon purchase; or, delivered instantly via eMail to you or to the gift recipient. Certificates can be personalized with a message and include a full description of the gift purchased. Don’t worry, we won’t disclose the price of the gift.

NO EXPIRATION DATES

Certificates are valid for one year from the date of purchase. After 12 months from the date of issue, the redeemer will be responsible for any price increase for the activity (if there is one at the time of redemption).

FREE EXCHANGES

Worried about selecting the perfect gift? No need to! Certificates valid for a specific activity can be exchanged at any time prior to redemption. Plus, open Choice Certificates can be purchased here.

5,500+ EXPERIENCE GIFTS

With so many activities to choose from across the United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa, you are sure to find the perfect Experience Gift for everyone on your list!

BEST PROVIDERS

Xperience Days only works with the best in-class Activity Providers. We do the research for you in order to make sure that your gift recipient will have a memorable adventure.

FREE GIFT PACK

Gifts may be sent in an attractive gift pack and delivered via your choice of USPS or FedEx. Gift packs contain the gift card purchased, a description of the gift itself and an optional personalized message.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Have questions? Live Customer Support is available Monday thru Friday from 9:30 AM until 4:30 PM (EST). We are happy to answer any questions you may have via Phone, Live Chat or eMail.

Drive the Train

Was a wonderful experience. Very interesting and informative, and a once in a lifetime experience! Instructors and assistants were very knowledgeable and helpful. Thank you so much for an enjoyable time!

Paul Valerio - Frankford, NJ

Live Steam in Motion

The experience was a much more inclusive study of steam locomotion than I had anticipated. Not only did I get to move a steam engine but I learned how it really works.

Danne Lorieo - Yonkers, NY

Learn to Drive a Steam Train

Very educational. Good teacher. Excellent engineer on train.

Carl Fritschi - Essex, Ct

Essex Hand on the Throttle

I received this as a Christmas present from my wife and it was one of the best gifts I ever received. I am fascinated by how things work and older "technology" so the educational and instructional component of the experience was just as fun and interesting as driving the big engine.

Kevin K. - Norwalk, CT

Absolutely Amazing

I recieved this as a birthday gift and it was the best gift I have ever recieved. This is a once in a lifetime experience that is truly worth the money. Thr crew is very friendly and personable and are willing to help and train you. The driver and fireman are both really great guys who enjoy their job and this makes the whole experience a million times more enjoyable. If i could rate it higher than a 5, I would not hesitate to do so. Absolutely great gift for any train nut.

Vinny - New York

Learn to Drive a Steam Train

The two individuals (e.g. the fireman and the engineer) were outstanding. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone that has a remote interest in understanding the concepts of driving a steam train. The Steam Train Team made me feel comfortable with the experience and overall extremely enjoyable. Thanks so much!

Susan Bostick - Gold River, CA

You Hand on the Throttle

This was my 2nd experience and with a different locomotive. The thrill of driving it, blowing the whistle and just savoring the moment was priceless. My thanks go to my family and the expert train crew for making it a memorable day!

Armand - Staten Island

Hand On The Throttle Experience

My Hand On The Throttle Experience significantly exceeded my expectations! As good as the actual experience of operating the locomotive the interaction with Paul and Ken who provided in actual experience was better. Paul and Ken made my experience. I recommend this experience to anyone with any interested in railroading.

Ken A. Forrest - Gold River California

Hands On Train Experience

Better experience than I expected. The Engineer was very patient, explained everything clearly. Excellent Instructor. The Fireman was also great. Will recommend this to my friends.

Robert Radecki - Sussex, CT

Steam Train

Absolutely Fabulous! Brian, Eric, David were very nice local people to work with. It truly was a dream come true for me and the best present ever. All my friends and relatives were shocked, surprised and later just as excited as I to watch my experience on video.

Helen Ryan - Essex

Hand on the Throttle

Ready to do it again! Was a great ride, people were great! You control a 150 ton locomotive, get to feel the rush of all that steam power moving one big machine!

Jeffrey Kier - Ewan NJ

Hands on the throttle

This was an excellent experience. I will highly recommend it to others interested in steam railroads.

Alfred H. Brand - Kew Gardens NY

Great!!!

One of the best times I've ever had had....can't wait to do it again!

Brian McKeen - Hanson, MA

Learn to Drive a Steam Train

It was terrific!!! I took the class at noon on April 20th and rode the train at 4 PM. While everyone was very friendly and behaved like they really enjoyed their job, I would like to call specific attention to the crew on the train. They were very friendly and eager to share their knowledge about railroading. They made you feel right at home and put you at ease. Their attitude was that they were happy I was there and eager to share railroading with me. I would recommend it to anyone interested in trains!!!

Keith J. Nevrincean - New Jersey

Train Experiece Day

'The Hands on the Throttle' Train Exp.Day was awsome. It was a dream of a life time for me. The crew and instructors were very good and patient with all of us. It was worth the drive to Essex to see and drive a real Steam Locamotive,what an Awsome piece of machinery. Thanks again for the RIDE!! PS:Special thanks to my Spousal Equivalent and her 2 Daughters for making all of this possible for me.

Roger Chagnon - Lyman, ME

Steam Train

WOW - what an exciting and exhilarating experience! Getting the chance to start, run and stop a steam locomotive was awesome. Feeling the engine rumble and sway along the track, smelling the coal smoke and swirling steam, and of course, blowing the whistle for grade crossings and kids (seeing them smile and wave to me was pure pleasure!) on this 8 mile trip are some of the sensations and images I'll always treasure. The instructors and engine crew were truly professional, very patient and answered all my questions about operating the locomotive. I tip my engineer's cap to them. Thank you to the Valley Railroad, and especially my family, for this wonderful gift. Now, it's your turn. The engine and crew are waiting for you. GO!

Armand - Staten Island, New York

Train Driving Adventure

I got this as a birthday present and it was amazing, I loved every minute of this experience.

Nathan - Thompson

LEARN TO DRIVE A STEAM TRAIN

As a life-long lover of anything having to do with railroads and especially steam locomotives, this was the experience of a lifetime.

HAL MARSHALL - LAKE LOTAWANA MO

Steam train

The experience was fabulous. The folks at Valley Railroad are enthusiastic about sharing their love of steam trains and making the event everything it was advertised to be. I'll likely do it again and one of my friends is ready to sign up as well.

Ray James - Williamsburg, VA

Steam Train

Driving the steam train in Essex was a wonderful experience. Moving 80 tons of metal was the thrill of a lifetime. More importantly, I have made a small contribution to railroad preservation.

John Sharkey - Essex CT

Drive a Steam Train

For a few hours last Friday, I became a little boy again, driving a steam locomotive along the Connecticut River Valley. It was a dream I have had for over fifty years since I was just a kid playing with my electric trains at Christmas. Words cannot describe the thrill!

Ken Buettner - Essex, CT

Hands on the Throttle

What a wonderful adventure! The crew and staff could not have been better. I was at the throttle for #97, a 2-8-0 Consolidation. Now I have one up on my other train friends - I have actually driven a steam locomotive!

Danny Seymour - Howell, NJ

Hands on the Throttle

Fantastic, great bunch of people. Lots of fun, one of the best experiences I have ever had.

Michael Lux - Warren NJ

Learn to Drive a Steam Train

Fantastic, start to finish! I'll be back with friends!

Peter - New Hampshire

Hand on the Throttle

This experience exceeded my expectations. The classroom activities covered all the principles of operation of all the major components of the steam engine. It was well presented utilizing a real engine and models with plenty of time allocated to questions. It is amazing technology for the time. Once on the engine, the engineer and fireman did a fantastic job giving me the guidance to actually operate this amazing machine myself. I highly recommend this experience.

Ray Marino - Bridgewater, NJ

Learn to Drive a Steam Engine

Outstanding adventure. Great people at the Essex Valley RR drove a 282 consolidation steam engine, apretty big engine. Class was first then drove the train for 1 hour through Conn. Valley along the river. Absolutely terrific day. I'm going to do it again. The RR is a living museum of stores, repair shops and yards.

David Robertson - Mt Sinai NY

Hand on The Throttle

One of the great moments in my life time.
Instructors were very helpful and considerate of our needs to learn a lot in a very short period of time. The engineer and fireman did a great job in making me comfortable at the trottle! I will return soon to do this again! Thanks again!

Arthur Tuttle - East Lyme

'Hand on The Throttle'

My siblings and I purchased this for our Dad's milestone birthday. He had an absolutly amazing time. The faces on the 4 engineers we saw, including Dad's, after their time at the throttle were priceless...like a young boy Christmas morning. I would highly recommend this once in a life time adventure for any steam train buff. Must be at least 18. Just be sure to reserve in advance as this expereince is limited and always sells out. The staff at the Essex Steam Railroad Museum were great and provided everything needed (release, train manual, etc.) well in advance. Again, I highly recommend this adventure!!

Question: Would I be able to purchase a ticket to ride on the train WHILE my husband did this experience?

Answer: Unfortunately, the provider does not allow anyone on the train during the lesson. Only one participant will be allowed on the locomotive with the train conductor at a time. Guests are not permitted on board the train. However, you will find that there are several things for you to do that are close to the train station.

Question: My husband loves trains and I am thinking about this experience for his 60th birthday. How long is the train ride and is he in the cab the entire time? Would I be able to ride in the passenger area of the train or is there an area I can wait in?

Answer: During the Drive a Steam Train your husband will first have a lesson on how to operate the train and a safety test. He will then enjoy one hour of conducting the train. The total duration of this experience is approximately 4 hours.
Unfortunately passengers are not permitted to ride along in the train during the experience. Essex is a beautiful waterfront district with plenty to explore. You may enjoy a visit to a museum, a morning at the spa, or take a leisurely stroll browsing the storefronts and spend the morning shopping.

Question: I would like purchase this gift for my husband, a train enthusiast. Does everyone in the class board the train take turns at the controls or will he have his own time?

Answer: There are four students to a class, and you learn how to operate the train and take the safety test together. Then you will take turns boarding the train for a solo hands on lesson. Only one student will be on the train conducting at a time.

Question: My son loves trains and is getting his driver's license this year. I'd like to surprise him by having him drive us to the train station and letting him learn to drive a steam train. What are the age requirements?

Answer: All driver's must be at least 18 years old and have a valid drivers license.

Question: I would like to purchase this for my 84 year old father who uses a wheelchair. It has been a dream of his for a long time. Is the train wheelchair accessible?

Answer: Unfortunately because of space and physical requirements of driving the train this is not handicapped accessible.

Question: I would like to buy this experience for my dad for his birthday. It says that this is a 4 hour experience, 1 hour instruction, 1 hour of driving, but you are with other people learning too. What would my dad do for two hours after he learns but cannot be the first of the group to drive the train?

Answer: During the time that the participants wait for their turn, they will be in the dining car with the other participants and an instructor or representative from the railroad. As reflected in the reviews, this is an extremely popular and enjoyable experience.